National Parks Senior Pass, in danger

[mangy dog]

Originally Posted by tdst51

Raising the fee will do nothing for us as citizens- except raise the fee. I'm sorry, but I can't go along with you guys on this one. Poor struggling young families- blah blah blah. I wasn't poor, but pretty much struggled and worked hard all my life. Now you want me to pay more for something everybody has gotten for the same price for many many years? I don't think so.

I just got off the phone with Ohio Senator Rob Portman's office. They were not even familiar with the bill. It is obvious where seniors fall on his list of priorities. I just turned 62, so yes I'm pretty annoyed. Maybe I can get to park before the bill takes effect. Maybe not.

By the way, I also already paid for those parks.

I think I read that the house bill was introduced by a republican from Utah. I hope Utah seniors take note.

Heck, campground owners will love it.

mangy dog

[Hit_the_Rhod]

Originally Posted by firedoc

The Access Pass is for documented handicapped persons. And it is not free. There is a $10.00 processing fee associated with it. So currently it is the same cost as the senior pass.

Something must have changed since I got my access pass at Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine FL two years ago for free. Showed the Park Ranger at the fort my VA card, and verification of medical disability, he had me sign for the card, and off we went! No money changed hands.

Also, the Park Ranger at Petroglyph National Monument this last July, less than 5 months ago, issued an Access Pass to the customer ahead of me at no charge with his documentation. . . ..

Perhaps there is a fee if you apply by mail, but not in person. . . .

[jpharley]

The Access Pass for disabled is free.

[wajell]

Originally Posted by mangy dog

I just got off the phone with Ohio Senator Rob Portman's office. They were not even familiar with the bill. It is obvious where seniors fall on his list of priorities. I just turned 62, so yes I'm pretty annoyed. Maybe I can get to park before the bill takes effect. Maybe not.

By the way, I also already paid for those parks.

I think I read that the house bill was introduced by a republican from Utah. I hope Utah seniors take note.

Heck, campground owners will love it.

mangy dog

JUST went online to the USGS website and bought one before (I hope) Obama signs it into law. $10 fee. You'll need a photo or scan of a document proving that you are 62 or older. $20 is less than $80. The older you get the more the government screws you over.

Nice heads up!!!

[twogypsies]

Originally Posted by mangy dog

By the way, I also already paid for those parks.

You didn't pay for the parks and you're not paying for the upkeep of them. If you're talking about taxes that might be a penny a year - if that. Tax money doesn't all go to one thing.

[CampDaven]

I have had my $10 pass for many years. It was worth many times that!
Thousands of $ saved, or, in another perspective, not paid.
There are many facts, observations, political jabs, and complaints on this thread but no solid solutions.
I'm sympathetic to the cause, but I only react to issues I can fix.
Without anything that I can at least chew on, I'm going back to my coffee

[beenthere]

geez i dont know why people dont read things. the $10 is for processing and if you just get it at the first park you visit it is free ...so why would anybody send off for it and pay when it clearly states you can get it free at the first site you visit...and of course dont forget to read again the portion where it says just bring your proof of the disabity

[Superslif]

The Access Pass for disabled is free

My son is disabled, and got his last year. We did drive to our local national park (Cuyahoga Valley NP. in NE. OH.) with the proper documentation it didn't cost us a thing.

The only issue is some of the National Parks are now run by concessionaires and don't honor it. Or only give a 10% discount. But we are able to use it at many places when we went to Alaska this past summer.

Being retired now, I'm going to try to plan trips that incorporate the National Parks in our future trips. With the great un-known going forward in the new administration who knows what happens. Drill Baby Drill..

[docj]

Originally Posted by Superslif

The only issue is some of the National Parks are now run by concessionaires and don't honor it. Or only give a 10% discount.

IFAIK the pass still provides free admission even at concessionaire-operated national parks. You may not get the full 50% camping discount, but admission should still be covered.

The situation at concessionaire-operated national forest locations may be different.

Some people fail to understand the differences between national parks and historic sites operated by NPS and Forest Service locations which are run by the Department of Agriculture.

[98FPA]

Geez, I think this is one of the best deals out there. I just purchased my 2nd. pass this past Thanksgiving. Had a chance to see Theodore Roosevelt National Park while in the area. For $10.00 four of us were able to see these amazing views.




Here is a RV junkyard I also saw while in the Williston, ND area.


My first pass, which I purchased several years ago, enables us to camp at a nearby COE campground. We get full hookups for $12.00/night plus this view


Now I have one on me for any future visits I may do. Now I will not leave home without it.

[wajell]

Originally Posted by beenthere

geez i dont know why people dont read things. the $10 is for processing and if you just get it at the first park you visit it is free ...so why would anybody send off for it and pay when it clearly states you can get it free at the first site you visit...and of course dont forget to read again the portion where it says just bring your proof of the disabity

Congress has just RAISED the PRICE to $80 or more. If you buy the pass before Obama signs the bill you can still get it for $10. Plus it is not "free" unless you are disabled. It is $10 (soon to be $80+).

Got it?

[wa8yxm]

I too belong to the "I've paid my taxes, Why should have to pay for a Tax Supported Park Pass?" crowd.

That said I also understand that not everyone chooses to visit a Government run Park or Campground and thus the additional fee may be proper.. or not.

But the difference between 10 and 80 dollars .. If it went to support the parks,, Well that might be something but I worked and paid taxes for a whole lot of years before I qualified for my Golden Age pass,, and now I have one.

The extra 70 bucks (And in fact all 80) will go not to the park but to a "Trust Fund" and I highly suspect that like the Social Security Trust, Congress will find a way to "Borrow" from the fund and never repay.

[S Bradley]

"The extra 70 bucks (And in fact all 80) will go not to the park but to a "Trust Fund" and I highly suspect that like the Social Security Trust, Congress will find a way to "Borrow" from the fund and never repay."

They don't borrow they steal from the American public. Lets be clear if this were to support the parks it would go directly to the parks. This is another money grab, if anything more than a minuscule/token amount ever goes to the National parks I would be astonished.

[c92vette]

I purchased an $80 Interagency Annual Pass last year for our summer trip. That's what the Senior Pass is. We stayed at NPS Campgrounds and COE Campgrounds part of the time. We visited 4 Parks, 4 Monuments, and 1 COE lake. The lake stay was for 28 days. Just the savings at the COE Campground paid for 3.5 annual passes. Plus we paid no entry fees at the parks that charged. Note not all Parks charge entry fees. Check out Wind Cave NP in the Black Hills or Hot Springs NP in Arkansas. We got a half price parking pass at Rushmore a National Monument not a NP which is good for the year which purchased. We visited Rushmore twice for the cost of a half price parking pass. I don't recall the fees charged at all of the federal lands we visited but I estimate we saved nearly $500 with the pass. Not a bad $80 investment IMHO. Now I can get a $10 lifetime pass and get the same discounts? I might have to pay $80 for the same for the rest of my life? And the DW gets the benefit as well? What a deal regardless of the change in the law. BTW, the law changed in 2004 doing away with the "Golden" passes. But, all National Parks Passes, Golden Eagle, Golden Eagle Hologram, Golden Access and Golden Age Passports continue to be honored according to the provisions of the pass. I expect this policy will continue. I agree with the foreign spending that needs to cease and the revenue placed in our land to benefit us the citizens and taxpayers. But I don't mind paying extra for use of lands that are the most beautiful lands in the world.